Will the Real Burger King Please Stand Up? (2019)
(eater.com)
The Burger King in Mattoon, Illinois, is not your typical Burger King. You won’t find Whoppers or chicken fries on the menu, and while there is a drive-up window, it won’t resemble almost any other modern drive-thru with a two-way speaker. Instead, you’ll find fresh burgers with beef straight from the meat market, a single window, and employees who run out to cars with a paper and pencil in tow when the line gets too long (a la Portillo’s, fellow Midwesterners).
The Burger King in Mattoon, Illinois, is not your typical Burger King. You won’t find Whoppers or chicken fries on the menu, and while there is a drive-up window, it won’t resemble almost any other modern drive-thru with a two-way speaker. Instead, you’ll find fresh burgers with beef straight from the meat market, a single window, and employees who run out to cars with a paper and pencil in tow when the line gets too long (a la Portillo’s, fellow Midwesterners).
When the Michelin Star Becomes a Restaurant's Curse
(wsj.com)
Last fall, the restaurant Giglio in Lucca, Italy, made a surprising request: to have its Michelin star removed from the 2025 guide.
Last fall, the restaurant Giglio in Lucca, Italy, made a surprising request: to have its Michelin star removed from the 2025 guide.
I pulled data on 1378 restaurants from Google Maps to rank them in order
(mattsayar.com)
See how this list was created. This page was last updated February 12, 2025.
See how this list was created. This page was last updated February 12, 2025.
Where are the best restaurants in my city? A statistical analysis
(mattsayar.com)
Everyone wants to know the best places to eat, but the "best place" is inherently subjective.
Everyone wants to know the best places to eat, but the "best place" is inherently subjective.
Domino's Pizza to close 172 outlets in Japan
(japantimes.co.jp)
Domino's Pizza Enterprises, headquartered in Australia, said Friday that it will close 205 unprofitable outlets worldwide, including 172 in Japan.
Domino's Pizza Enterprises, headquartered in Australia, said Friday that it will close 205 unprofitable outlets worldwide, including 172 in Japan.
Norwich restaurant charges £100 ($122) for a pineapple pizza
(theguardian.com)
A pizzeria is asking its customers to put their dough where their mouth is if they want to eat a Hawaiian – charging £100 for a ham and pineapple-topped pizza.
A pizzeria is asking its customers to put their dough where their mouth is if they want to eat a Hawaiian – charging £100 for a ham and pineapple-topped pizza.
Americans Are Tipping Less Than They Have in Years
(wsj.com)
People are tipping less at restaurants than they have in at least six years, driven by fatigue over rising prices and growing prompts for tips at places where gratuities haven’t historically been expected.
People are tipping less at restaurants than they have in at least six years, driven by fatigue over rising prices and growing prompts for tips at places where gratuities haven’t historically been expected.
The Class Politics of Fine Dining
(contexts.org)
Some people still have stress dreams about high school exams. I still have stress dreams about working for David Bouley.
Some people still have stress dreams about high school exams. I still have stress dreams about working for David Bouley.
The great tweezer takeover: Is fine dining hijacking the soul of San Francisco?
(sfstandard.com)
As more chefs embrace the fuss and foam, the city's sweet spot — the midlevel restaurant — is at risk of becoming extinct.
As more chefs embrace the fuss and foam, the city's sweet spot — the midlevel restaurant — is at risk of becoming extinct.
When the Check Came for Outdoor Dining
(slate.com)
Four years ago, as pundits and politicians predicted the end of the city, an unlikely symbol of resilience emerged: a hastily built wooden platform, in the curb lane outside a restaurant, where people could eat and drink without fear of infection.
Four years ago, as pundits and politicians predicted the end of the city, an unlikely symbol of resilience emerged: a hastily built wooden platform, in the curb lane outside a restaurant, where people could eat and drink without fear of infection.
California passes law allowing Dutch-style cannabis cafes
(medicalxpress.com)
Starting next year, diners in the western US state of California can smoke cannabis at certain restaurants, thanks to a new law allowing for "cannabis cafes" akin to those popularized in the Netherlands.
Starting next year, diners in the western US state of California can smoke cannabis at certain restaurants, thanks to a new law allowing for "cannabis cafes" akin to those popularized in the Netherlands.
Kitchen staff were canaries in the coal mine (2022)
(economistwritingeveryday.com)
I’ve long been a lurker on r/kitchenconfidential. I did a few brief tours in the service industry when I was younger and my partner used to manage a successful upscale restaurant. If you’ve spent anytime in a restaurant after closing in the last ten years, then you probably aren’t surprised by the continuing labor shortage in the service industry.
I’ve long been a lurker on r/kitchenconfidential. I did a few brief tours in the service industry when I was younger and my partner used to manage a successful upscale restaurant. If you’ve spent anytime in a restaurant after closing in the last ten years, then you probably aren’t surprised by the continuing labor shortage in the service industry.
When You Call a Restaurant, You Might Be Chatting with an AI Host
(wired.com)
A pleasant female voice greets me over the phone. “Hi, I’m an assistant named Jasmine for Bodega,” the voice says. “How can I help?”
A pleasant female voice greets me over the phone. “Hi, I’m an assistant named Jasmine for Bodega,” the voice says. “How can I help?”
David Chang on the long, hard, stupid way
(herbertlui.net)
I recently came across a great quote from David Chang, “Just because we’re a casual restaurant, doesn’t mean we don’t hold ourselves to fine dining standards. We try to do things the right way. That usually means doing things the long, hard, stupid way.”
I recently came across a great quote from David Chang, “Just because we’re a casual restaurant, doesn’t mean we don’t hold ourselves to fine dining standards. We try to do things the right way. That usually means doing things the long, hard, stupid way.”